“Regrettably, this is another yet target missed by the Welsh Government and provides more evidence that our education system isn’t delivering for children and young people.

“We already know from international experts and Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector in Wales that learners from more affluent backgrounds are not achieving as well as they ought to be, so news that pupils from poorer backgrounds are also missing their targets is very concerning.

“The Welsh Government must take urgent action to restore the cuts it has made to per-pupil funding in recent years and support the education workforce to make the changes needed to turn this situation around.”

Notes

On Wednesday, Welsh Conservatives responded to research showing that school budgets in Wales have fallen by around £370 per pupil in six years.

Pupils in the learning through play early years are assessed on their personal and social development, literacy and communication skills, as well as how they are developing in maths.

Latest figures show 75.9% of seven-year-old pupils from lower-income families achieved the expected level at the end of the foundation phase.

And the gap between those who receive free school meals and those who do not have also fallen short of the target.